Animation mechanism

Abstract

Animation mechanism (1) comprising a cam (2) mounted to move in rotation about an axis of rotation of the cam (2), the cam (2) comprising a guide groove (22) arranged around the axis of rotation of the cam (2), a first animation member (35) kinematically connected to the cam (2) by a first transmission member (3), a second animation member (36) kinematically connected to the cam (2) by a second transmission member (4), the first transmission member (3) and the second transmission member (4) each comprising a cam follower member inserted in the guide groove (22). Timepiece (10) comprising such an animation mechanism (1).

1 . Animation mechanism ( 1 ) comprising:
 a cam ( 2 ) mounted to move in rotation around an axis of rotation ( 20 ) of the cam ( 2 ), the cam ( 2 ) comprising a guide groove ( 22 ),   a first animation member ( 35 ) kinematically connected to the cam ( 2 ) by a first transmission member ( 3 ),   a second animation member ( 36 ) kinematically connected to the cam ( 2 ) by a second transmission member ( 4 ),   the first transmission member ( 3 ) and the second transmission member ( 4 ) each comprising a cam follower member ( 31 ,  41 ) intended to cooperate with the guide groove ( 22 ).   
     
     
         2 . Animation mechanism ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second animation member ( 36 ) is kinematically connected to the first animation member ( 35 ). 
     
     
         3 . Animation mechanism ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second animation member ( 36 ) is mounted to move in rotation with respect to the first animation member ( 35 ). 
     
     
         4 . Animation mechanism ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a first carriage ( 6 ) and a first arm ( 7 ) mounted to move in rotation on the first carriage ( 6 ), the first carriage ( 6 ) being kinematically connected to the first transmission member ( 3 ) and the first arm ( 7 ) being kinematically connected to the second transmission member ( 4 ), the first animation member ( 35 ) being fixed on the first carriage ( 6 ) and the second animation member ( 36 ) being fixed on the first arm ( 7 ). 
     
     
         5 . Animation mechanism ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the first carriage ( 6 ) is mounted to move in translation. 
     
     
         6 . Animation mechanism ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the guide groove ( 22 ) is arranged around the axis of rotation ( 20 ) of the cam ( 2 ) and wherein said cam follower member ( 31 ,  41 ) is inserted in the guide groove. 
     
     
         7 . Animation mechanism ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the guide groove ( 22 ) forms a closed curve. 
     
     
         8 . Animation mechanism ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first transmission member ( 3 ) is a lever mounted to move in rotation and the second transmission member ( 4 ) is a bar mounted to move in translation. 
     
     
         9 . Animation mechanism ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the guide groove ( 22 ) comprises at least one active portion ( 222 ,  224 ) in which the distance from the guide groove ( 22 ) to the axis of rotation ( 20 ) of the cam ( 2 ) is variable and at least one inactive portion ( 221 ,  223 ) in which the distance from the guide groove ( 22 ) to the axis of rotation ( 20 ) of the cam ( 2 ) is constant,
 the animation mechanism ( 1 ) being configured so that, when the cam follower member ( 31 ) of the first transmission member ( 3 ) follows an active portion ( 222 ,  224 ) of the guide groove ( 22 ), the cam follower member ( 41 ) of the second transmission member ( 4 ) follows an inactive portion ( 223 ) of the guide groove ( 22 ), and so that, when the cam follower member ( 41 ) of the second transmission member ( 4 ) follows an active portion ( 222 ,  224 ) of the guide groove ( 22 ), the cam follower member ( 31 ) of the first transmission member ( 3 ) follows an inactive portion ( 223 ) of the guide groove ( 22 ).   
     
     
         10 . Animation mechanism ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a third animation member ( 55 ), a fourth animation member ( 56 ) and a third transmission member ( 5 ), the third animation member ( 55 ) being kinematically connected to the cam ( 2 ) by the third transmission member ( 5 ) and the fourth animation member ( 56 ) being connected to the cam ( 2 ) by the second transmission member ( 4 ), the third transmission member ( 5 ) comprising a cam follower member ( 51 ) inserted in the guide groove ( 22 ). 
     
     
         11 . Animation mechanism ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , configured so that, when the cam follower member ( 31 ) of the first transmission member ( 3 ) follows an active portion ( 222 ,  224 ) of the guide groove ( 22 ), the cam follower member ( 51 ) of the third transmission member ( 5 ) follows an active portion ( 222 ,  224 ) of the guide groove ( 22 ), and so that, when the cam follower member ( 31 ) of the first transmission member ( 3 ) follows an inactive portion ( 221 ,  223 ) of the guide groove ( 22 ), the cam follower member ( 51 ) of the third transmission member ( 5 ) follows an inactive portion ( 221 ,  223 ) of the guide groove ( 22 ). 
     
     
         12 . Animation mechanism ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the third transmission member ( 5 ) is a lever mounted to move in rotation. 
     
     
         13 . Animation mechanism ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the first animation member ( 35 ) represents the bottom of the body of a first person, the second animation member ( 36 ) represents the top of the body of the first person, the third animation member ( 55 ) represents the bottom of the body of a second person and the fourth animation member ( 56 ) represents the top of the body of the second person, the animation mechanism ( 1 ) being configured so that, during an animation cycle corresponding to a rotation of the cam ( 2 ) by one half-turn from a starting position, the first and second people thus effect the following successive movements:
 the bottom of their bodies ( 35 ;  55 ) and the top of their bodies ( 36 ;  56 ) together carry out a translational movement towards each other;   the top of their bodies ( 36 ;  56 ) pivots relative to the bottom of their bodies ( 35 ;  55 ) which remains immobile, so that their heads approach each other;   the top of their bodies ( 36 ;  56 ) pivots in the reverse direction, while the bottom of their bodies ( 35 ;  55 ) still remains immobile;   the bottom of their bodies ( 35 ;  55 ) and the top of their bodies ( 36 ;  56 ) together carry out a translational movement so as to move apart from each other and to return to the starting position.   
     
     
         14 . Animation mechanism ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the position of the cam follower member ( 41 ) of the second transmission member ( 4 ) is adjustable in order to adjust the relative position of the second transmission member ( 4 ) with respect to the axis of rotation ( 20 ) of the cam ( 2 ). 
     
     
         15 . Timepiece ( 10 ) comprising an animation mechanism ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 .